Heavy duty cloth laying machine



15 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1967 .v E. M. MERRILL HEAvYiDUTY CLOTHLAYING MACHINE Pda.: 17, 1970 5 sets-sheet s Filed Aug. 18, 1967 v5Sheets-Sheet 4 E. M. MERRILL HEAVY DUTY CLOTH LAYINGzMCHINE Feb. 17,1970l vFiled Aug. 18, 1967 Feb. 17, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 1s,1967 .AWN

3,495,817 HEAVY DUTY CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Edward M. Merrill, NorthBellmore, N.Y., assignor to Cutting Room Appliances Corporation, NewYork,

N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 665,666Int. Cl. B65h 29/46; G03b 1/56; B21c .I3/06 U.S. Cl. 270-31 3 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A high speed motorized cloth laying machinehaving a positively driven main feed roller, and including the followingfeatures:

(a) orbitally mounted wrap roller which in one position `disengages thedriven roller (b) the wrap roller is coupled with a dancer bar forsimultaneous movement to an inactive position to facilitate threading(c) a powered loader for semiautomatically moving fresh cloth supplyrolls into position for feeding upon the carriage (d) upon positioningof a fresh supply roll, lbraking means automatically engages the spindleof said roll (e) automatic means for slowing the carriage at each end ofthe cloth laying table prior to engagement of cloth clamping meansIther-eat (f) automatically actuated braking of cloth supply roll by niproller to detect material feed (g) acceleration of the carriage fromrest at incrementally increased acceleration rates (h) means fordetecting a seam extending across the web of the cloth, and for stoppingthe machine a short time interval after detection, by which time theseam has reached the cloth laying table, to permit the same to be cutout, and the web overlapped (i) automatic transfer of machine carriagespeed from low level to high level after leaving catcher to increaseaverage rate of lay (j) cloth roll supporting bar having adjustableouter diameter to permit simplified engagement with a cloth roll (k)selectively extendable loading tray for dispensing cloth web supply inflattened folded condition.

This invention relates generally to the eld of high speed motorizedcloth laying machines, and more particularly to a device of this typerequiring a minimum of attention during operation, whereby the number ofpersonnel necessary for such operation may be materially reduced.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide in a machineof the class described in improved wrap roller cooperating with apositively driven feed roller on the carriage in such manner that movingthe wrap roller to an inactive position for threading of ya cloth webtherearound automatically disengages the drive to the driven roller, sothat the same may be freely rotated upon coming into contact with thecloth web.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of structure ofthe above described type featuring a dancing roller lying in the path oftravel of the web for the purpose of sensing the presence of slack andoperating braking means, movement of the wrap roller to an inactiveposition serving to simultaneously move the dancer arm to a similarposition, for further facilitating the threading of a web of cloth.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of power operatedloading means capable of lifting a cloth United States Patent ICC rollfrom the surface of a cloth loading table to a position for threading,and for automatically aligning said roll upon reaching a position forthreading.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of means fordetecting the end of a web emanating from a source of supply, andautomatically stopping the machine by the time said end has been laidupon the cloth laying table, so that a reserve roll may be immediatelypositioned, threaded, and the resumption of cloth laying may becommenced, without the necessity of repositioning the carriage upon thetable.

y Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a powerdriven feed roller, the movement of which is independent of movement ofthe carriage over the table, the speed of which is governed solely bycloth demand.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of a clothlaying machine having means for detecting the presence of a laterallyextending seam in the cloth web, and for arresting movement of thecarriage at the position in which the seam has just been deposited uponthe table, so that it may be manually cut, the web subsequentlyoverlapped, and the cloth laying operation con tinued.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a clothlaying machine having a power operated carriage which smoothlyaccelerates and decelerates between the limits of reciprocating motiondetermined by the length of the table, whereby abrupt starts and stopsare eliminated.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of improvedelectronic circuitry which may be substantially trouble free for arelatively long useful life, and in which the individual componentsthereof may lbe replaced as modules.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision of cloth roll brakingand power driven feed roller speed control as a function of a singledancer arm responsive to the occurrence of cloth web slack.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

FIGURE l is a plan View of a cloth laying machine carriage embodying theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof showing the sideopposite that seen in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing cloth rollloading means comprising a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing operation of Wraproller and dancer roller positioning means.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from theplane 6--6 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 7-7 inFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing feed tray meansfor holding bulk piece goods in engaged and extended position.

FIGURE 9` is a fragmentary side elevational view of said feed traymeans.

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary plan view thereof.

FIGURE l1 is a flow diagram showing interconnection vof electricalcontrol means.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary view in perspective of cloth seam vdetectionmeans.

FIGURE 13 is a `sectional view of a cloth roll supporting means.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly: a carriage element 11,adapted to traverse a cloth laying table 12, carriage element propulsionmeans 13, selectively positively driven cloth feeding means 14, clothroll loading means 15, cloth bolt tray supporting means 16, carriagecontrol means 17, cloth roll feeding and braking means 18, cloth webseam detecting means 19, and cloth roll supporting spindle means 20.

The carriage element 11 may be of a type well known in the art,including first and second longitudinal frame members 23 and 24,respectively, interconnected by transverse members 25, and including anelectric motor 26 for driving a suitable number of wheels 27 which arein contact with the cloth laying table 28. Each frame member 23-24includes vertical stanchions 29, each forming at an upper end thereof anotched cloth roll engaging member at 30 and 31. Guiding ramps 32 and 33communicate with the members 30 and 31, respectively, and extend to thearea of the upper terminal of track means 34 and 35, and track engagingmembers 36 and 37 which form part of the powered cloth roll loadingmeans 15. As the details of the loading means are fully disclosed in thecopending application of Edward M. Merrill, Ser. No. 602,094, led Dec.15, 1966, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application,it need not be further described herein.

The carriage element 11 is also provided with photocell edge alignmentmeans 38, of suitable type, as for example that disclosed in U.S. PatentNo. 3,222,005, granted Dec. 7, 1965, to Gerard J. Wendelken, andassigned to the same assignee as the present application. The means 38controls a motor 39 on a transverse support 40. The motor 39 includesgear reduction means 41 and drives a sprocket 42 transmitting motion toa chain 43 to accomplish transverse shifting of the cloth roll in wellknown manner. Switch tripping means 44 operates limit switches 45, 46and 47, the third switch 47 serving to interrupt the flow of current tothe motor 26, thereby halting the means 13, as will more fully appearhereinafter.

The positively driven cloth feeding means 14 includes a driven roll 53having rst and second ends l54 and 55, respectively, journalled inbearings 56 and 57. Power is transmitted directly from a motor 51controlled by a rheostat 59. The rheostat 59 includes a wiper 60 mountedon a shaft 61 which supports a dancer roller 62, operating inconjunction with a nip or wrap roller 63.

The roller 62 is mounted by end supporting members 64 on a discontinuousShaft 66. The outer end of the shaft 66 (see FIGURE 6) mounts anoperating handle 67 which serves to move the roller 62 upwardly when thedevice is threaded with an end of the cloth web. This movement alsotransmits motion to a concentrically mounted sleeve 68 having a lever 69the outer end 70 of which mounts a pin 71 which rests upon the member64, and motion is transmitted through a sprocket chain 72 and members 73and 74 to operate a clutch means 75 (see FIGURE 6'), the purpose ofwhich is to disengage the roll member 53 so that a cloth web may befreely moved thereover.

The roll member 53 includes a driven shaft 76 and concentricallydisposed roll sleeve 77 carried thereby. Linkage 78 is operated iby acam on the member 74 to move a yoke 79 axially along the axis of thedriven roll member, and transmits motion through a groove 80 in a motiontransmitting member 81 formed integrally with a sprocket 82. Thesprocket engages a pin 83, when the clutch is in engaged condition, sothat motion imparted to the shaft 76 is transmitted directly to thesleeve 77. When the clutch is disengaged, the sleeve may be freelyrotated without disturbing the shaft which is connected to the motor 51.

Referring to FIGURE 4 in the drawings, the loading means 15 is similarto that disclosed in the above mentioned copending application Ser. No.602,094, and includes an upper jaw 85 cooperating with a lower jaw 86 ina manner similar to that disclosed therein. The upper jaw `85 is mountedin pivotal manner upon a lever 87, interconnected through links 88, 89,and 91 to a solenoid 92 actuated by a switch 93 contacted by the entryof a cloth roll into position.

Referring to FIGURES 8, 9 and l0 in the drawings, the cloth bolt traysupporting means 16 includes a first or main frame member and a secondor auxiliary frame member 101 slidably associated therewith.

The main frame member 100 includes side portions 102 and 103interconnected by end portion 104. Projecting lugs 105 are selectivelyengageable with corresponding latching means 106 which holds the framemember 100 in position upon the carriage element.

The auxiliary frame member 101 includes a platform 107, the uppersurface 108 of which supports folded cloth for dispensing upon the clothlaying table. The platform 107 is reinforced by frame members 109, 110,111 and 112, and includes elongated engaging member 113 and 114 whichpermit slidable movement of the frame member 101 4with respect to theframe member 100. Latch means 115 fixes the relationship in retractedposition, whereby the auxiliary lframe 101 may be withdrawn outwardlyfor loading, and later slid into position for cloth dispensing.

Referring to FIGURE 1l in the drawings, there is illustrated theinterconnection between various control modules whereby the automaticfunctions of which the device is capable are controlled. A powertransformer 121 powers a seam detector module 122, operated by seamdetector means to be described hereinafter, the seam detector modulebeing connected to motor control modules 123 in turn connected to themain drive motor 26. Upon detection of a seam, the module 122 commencesa timing cycle which interrupts the flow of current to the motor controlmodules approximately one to two seconds later, whereby the motor 26will stop at a point in which the detected seam will have reached thesurface of the table at which time an operator may manually cut theseam, overlap the cloth web, and recommence operation of the clothlaying cycle.

A power supply module 124 is interconnected with a source of alternatingcurrent (not shown). A direction module 125 is controlled by switches tobe subsequently described, this module preventing reversal of thedirection of current to the motor 26 until the carriage has reached theend of a path of travel, as indicated by actuation of table limitswitches 126. A start and stop switch 127 is manually controlled, and ifdesired, a conventional Veeder-Root counter 126a may be actuated by thetripping of the table limit switches 126.

The edge control chassis module 128 corresponds to that described in theabove mentioned Wendelken Patent No. 3,222,005, and connects with a cutoff switch 47 interrupting the flow of current to the motor 26. As isknown in the art, the photocell unit 38 includes two cells, one of whichis normally blocked by the presence of the edge of the web of cloth, andthe other of which is normally uncovered, whereby the camming means 44will remain disposed between the switches 45 and 46 (see FIG- URE l).When the end of the web is reached, the normally covered photocell isuncovered, and the motor 39 continues to run, resulting in continuedmovement of the laterally adjustable part 166 to a point where the cam167 actuates the switch 47, thereby interrupting the flow of current tothe motor 26 and arresting the carriage. Upon rethreading with a :freshcloth roll, the sensing means 38 returns to its normal position, and thepart 166 repositions itself, whereby the switch 47 is again closed, andcurrent llow to the motor 26 is resumed.

Control of the motor 51 is accomplished through a safety limit switch131 which overrides the rheostat 60 connected to the positive drivemodule 131a controlling the motor 51. The loader module 132 cooperateswith limit switches 133 controlling the motor 134 which serves toelevate cloth rolls (not shown) as disclosed in Merrill application,Ser. No. 602,094, above mentioned.

The cloth web seam detecting means 19 is actuated by a microswitch 152(FIGURE 12) mounted upon a bracket 153 on an inner surface of the framemember 23. The switch is operated by a pivotally mounted cam member 154rotating about a shaft 155 and having an operative prole 156 bearingupon a roller follower 157 supported on arms 158. The cam member 154includes free ends 159 and 160, the former of which mounts an adjustablefeeler member 161 which cooperates with a xed feeler member 162 on thelatter to define a gap 163 through which a web of material 164 may pass.The gap 163 is adjusted to engage a seam 165 in the web 164 which willnormally be thicker than the remaining portions of the web, wherebysubsequent movement of the web will pivot the member 154 whereby theseam detector module 122 is actuated.

The cloth roll supporting means is adapted to be adjusted for clothrolls having varying internal diameters, and may be conveniently engagedwith a cloth roll prior to engagement with the cloth laying machinecarriage. As seen in FIGURE 13, the means 20 includes a main shaft 170having first and second ends 171 and 172, respectively, and alongitudinally arranged bore 173. An end plug 174 closes one end of thebore 173, and the opposite end is surrounded by a threaded terminal 175.A threaded member 176 engages the terminal 175, the outer end 177 beingprovided with a hand wheel 178 for convenient rotation. The inner end179 thereof contacts a sliding shaft 178, the opposite end 179:1 ofwhich bears against a spring 180. At convenient intervals, the shaft 178is provided with annular cam members 181 engaging pivotally mountedfollowers 182, the outer ends 183 of which project through openings 184in the main shaft 170 to engage the inner surfaces of cloth rolls. Anouter sleeve 185 is provided with recesses 186 to facilitate engagementwithin the notched members and 31 (FIG- URES 2 and 3).

Operation During operation of the device, upon occurrence of a need torethread the cloth web, the carriage is stopped (either throughautomatic actuation of the seam detecting or edge control means),following which the handle 67 (FIGURE 6) is rotated to result inrotation of the shaft 66, and the transmission of motion through thesprocket chain 72. With continued rotation, the rollers 62 and 63 aremoved upwardly to both lie above the surface 77 of the positive driveroller, and this motion will result in engagement of the members 73 and74, whereby the pin 83 is disengaged from the sprocket 82, resulting inpermissive movement of the surface 77 with respect to the shaft 76. Theweb may now be conveniently threaded between the surface 77 and the nowraised rollers `62 and 63, following which the handle 67 is returned toits initial 6 position, thus re-engaging the pin 83 with the sprocket 82and in training the web to be driven with subsequent rotation of theshaft 76. Motion of the carriage may then be started, and drive of theweb resumed.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure set forth in this specification, forobvious modications will occur to those skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a cloth laying machine including a positively driven roller forprogressively feeding a web of cloth from a supply source to a pointwherein the same is deposited upon a cloth laying table, the improvementcomprising: a wrap roller for guiding said web to contact said drivenroller over a substantial arcuate sector thereof, means mounting saidroller for translational movement parallel to the axis of said drivenroller, a dancer roller pivotally mounted for translational movementparallel to the axis of said driven roller; and means for simultaneouslymoving said wrap roller and dancer roller to a common side of saiddriven roller to facilitate the threading of an end of said cloth webtherebetween.

2. In a cloth laying machine carriage including a positively drivenroller for progressively feeding a web of cloth from a supply source toa point where the same is disposed upon a cloth laying table, theimprovement comprising: a wrap roller for guiding said web to contactsaid driven roller over a substantial arcuate sector thereof, and meansfor moving said wrap roller for translational movement parallel to theaxis of said driven roller; motion imparting means for driving saiddriven roller, clutch means interconnecting said motion imparting meansand said driven roller, and means interconnecting said wrap roller insaid clutch means such that translational movement of said wrap rollercontrols engagement of said clutch.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, said driven roller including adriven shaft, and a cloth web engaging sleeve concentrically disposedthereon, said clutch means serving to interconnect said shaft with saidsleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,921,786 1/1960 Deichmann et al.270-31 2,990,484 6/ 1961 Jones 242-7551 X 3,116,032 12/1963 Roberts242-75.43 3,151,820 10/1964 Bahring et al. 242-7551 X 3,227,390 1/ 1966Wendelken 270-31 3,365,143 1/1968 Espel 24-275.51

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner P. V. WILLIAMS, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 226-; 242-7551

